Passport to Parlor

Tattoos have long evolved beyond spontaneous chair sessions in grungy, hole-in-the-wall parlors. While these still have their appeal and purpose, the stereotypical experiences are often short-lived, one noted, and do not form a core memory to appreciate during the years that follow.

Luckily, tattoo artists and entrepreneurs from around the world have upped the ante with shops that not only ink, but also educate and inspire with on-site museums, and even wellness sanctuaries that both honor and preserve traditional needle techniques while prioritizing comfort, culture, and creativity. Some businesses have even gone so far as to host multi-day, soul-searching retreats for wanderlusters in need of a mental and physical respite that will, ultimately, be memorialized with a meaningful tattoo.

Unique tattoo shops and experiences are all over the globe. These are just a handful that tout connection and self-care just as much as aftercare.

Soul Tattoos, Location Varies

Soul Tattoos takes female empowerment in the industry to even greater heights through comprehensive three-day treks.

“The greatest trend I am seeing is a growing curiosity and pull towards a more conscious way of tattooing that helps heal the earth, the body, the ancestors, and our souls,” says founder and tattoo artist Ashley River, who grew frustrated over male tattoo artists who didn’t seem to honor and respect the body during such an intimate practice.

“Tattooing was (once) a feminine art form held mostly by women and received by women. Now, more and more women especially are remembering this and feeling called to this path,” she explains, which is why she started her business as a way to reclaim tattoos as methods of “soul retrieval, spiritual amulets, spells, oracular protection, portals, initiations into one’s role, a map of the soul’s evolutionary journey, and badges of honor woven into the luminous field as much as the sacred body form.”

Ceremony immersion journeys are conducted through a three-step ritual: soul regression through hypnosis to identify personal codes, symbols, and messages, a day of designing the tattoo, and a culminating session to cap the adventure with ink. The result: art anchored with “deep resonance, remembering, and belonging,” as opposed to typical one-and-done tats with limited interaction and thought.

AKA, Berlin, Germany

Founded in 2009 with state-of-the-art tattooing practices and full-body piercings, AKA has morphed into a thriving, multi-disciplinary art gallery that has welcomed hundreds of the most sought-after names in modern tattooing.

Through collaborations on projects and temporary exhibitions, these talents take residency to showcase their artistic sketches, while also leaving permanent marks on customers from all walks of life.

“The main idea of AKA is to group different artists in the same place,” Jon John, the original owner who has since passed away, once said. “The thing that I built AKA with, this art space, is friendship.”

Those interested in nabbing one-of-a-kind ink are encouraged to check out AKA’s digital schedule, which is constantly updated to reflect the names of those who will be passing through Berlin to set up shop, share their craft, and forge a lifelong bond between artist and recipient.

Brighton Tattoo Museum, Brighton, United Kingdom

With a mission to elevate her workspace beyond a hub of transactional tattooing, founder Meraki Fade constructed a “living archive of global tattoo culture” through the Brighton Tattoo Museum.

“Over years of travel and field research, I collected ritual tools, hand-tapping implements, pigments, and artifacts from regions where tattooing carries deep ancestral meaning,” Fade says.

What started as small cabinet displays expanded to a full-fledged micro-museum to preserve endangered traditions, honor lineage, and educate others on the “cultural, spiritual, and ecological contexts behind the craft.”

Today, the studio continues to serve two primary purposes: work with curators and anthropologists to celebrate and display tattooing’s history while providing customers the opportunity to leave with a bit of history themselves, especially if opting for a hand-tapped tat variety that Fade specializes in after living and learning in Borneo.

Amanita Art Village, Golejów, Poland

Set among the charming landscape of Poland’s surprisingly robust countryside, Amanita Art Village is home to a quaint residence with a natural swimming pool, mushroom-shaped sauna, and year-round fruit and vegetable garden.

“The idea for Amanita Art Village came to us many years ago, as we wanted to offer people something more than just a tattoo service,” says owner Dzo Lama, who, in partnership with Bartosz “Ishta” Jaworski, set out to create a nature-filled haven for travelers to simply rest and unwind before partaking in a tattoo session.

The two have also enlisted a private chef to accommodate visitors whose only task is to “relax and go through the creative process of having a piece of art born on their skin.”

“Authenticity is what forms the essence of every idea, fills the space, and opens the path to even greater personal and artistic growth,” says Jaworski of this special foray into tattoo hospitality. “By slowing down and stepping away from daily intensity, the tattoo becomes not only a piece of art on the skin but also a form of personal transformation and understanding.”

Earthlink Jim, Valencia, Spain

“Tattooing with intention” has become the mantra for tattoo artist Jimmy De Weerdt, who quickly drew parallels between cultural rituals and ceremonies and the process of receiving a tattoo.

“What started as a small, 10-minute cacao ritual before a session slowly grew into what can now become a whole retreat,” he shares of his flourishing business. “We take time to sit together, open up, and let the design and intention unfold naturally. The tattoo becomes a reminder of your own path, of what you want to bring into your life.”

Over several days, De Weerdt and his clients immerse themselves in the beauty of Spain’s flora and fauna to develop a design that symbolizes the connection of mind, body, and spirit. The final tattoo is then performed in a cozy yurt, influenced by every hike, yoga session, or waterfall trek that led up to the moment.

But perhaps best of all, De Weerdt offers his services to couples who want to embark on this journey together, often resulting in matching ink to tighten the bonds of their relationship.

Glasshouse, Nashville, Tennessee

Come for good, old-fashioned Southern hospitality and leave with fresh ink. Or at least that’s the goal of Nashville’s Glasshouse, owned and operated by the legendary Bubba Irwin, “Ink Master” season nine champion, and Chris Nunez, longtime judge of the hit show.

The dynamic duo found a way to make classic tattoo studios fun again by running operations inside country rapper and singer Jelly Roll’s famed Goodnight Nashville! bar, complete with food, a rooftop, live music, and dancing.

“The fact that it’s on Broadway itself is very unique,” Irwin says, noting that the establishment was the first of its kind allowed on Music City’s famed downtown strip.

Flash tattoos start at $150, but most customers come in for the lively crew who turn pain into pleasure — and lots of laughs — much like a shot of Tennessee whiskey.

Madre Selva, Costeño Beach, Colombia

Tattoo artist Lalo Yunda is so enamored with Colombia’s Caribbean coastline that he devoted his livelihood to bringing ink-seeking Americans to the tropical locale. In fact, he is so confident about his setup that he’s willing to cover the costs of plane tickets, lodging, and meals if clients choose to book a session with him.

“I’ve always been in love with this part of the world, and during the pandemic, I came here on vacation and ended up getting ‘stuck’ in paradise,” he reveals. “The energy of this place is powerful. It attracts travelers from all over the world who come seeking beauty, healing, and connection. And that’s why I chose to create my studio here.”

Beach and jungle-adjacent accommodations include a pool, lively dance floor, and opportunities to cliff dive, surf, tube, scuba, off-road bike, and horseback ride.

“The tattoo session happens on your final or next-to-last day, after you’ve already dropped all the stress of your regular life and tuned into the energy of this place,” Yunda explains. “By the time you sit in the chair, it’s not just a tattoo anymore: It becomes a rite of passage, a memory anchored to a transformation you actually experienced, not just visited.”